DJ SHADOW feat. DE LA SOUL: Rocket Fuel

Rating: It’s been a while since DJ Shadow got any coverage on MB but if he’s going to make tracks like Rocket Fuel with De La Soul then it might happen a little more often. The single finds the West and East coast legends unite to launch a windmilling, hook ‘n’ scratch-filled slice of b-boy hip-hop powered by Johnny Jenkins’ Gilded Splinters break. Not the newfangled beats of recent Shadow material then but, while most definitely a throwback bump, this recalls neither the stoned beats of the Mo Wax era nor the late 90s boom-bap of Quannum stuff – though it’s closer to the latter than anything. Whether this is a one-off or will define the sound of the new LP due later in the year remains to be seen however. It’s an obvious choice for a 45 but if you want one of the limited 300 run you’ll need to get your arse down to the 4th Annual DJ Shadow Storage Sale on August 10th & 11th in L.A.